Florene "Pudge" Neave

Florene Sylvia Neave (nee Rooks) joined her Lord and Savior on May 2, 2021. We celebrate by imagining her running into the arms of Jesus upon arrival into the gates of Heaven, and being reunited with her cherished husband, Gene. She will be dearly missed by all her family and friends, but we will come together and celebrate her 93 (almost 94) years of life. She was known as “Pudge” to all of her friends and family. She was born July 2, 1927 in Zion Illinois to loving parents, James and Laura Rooks. She was blessed with six brothers and sisters and too many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends to mention. Pudge married Eugene (Gene) Neave, the man who would remain the love of her life until God called him home after 59 years of marriage. Many of you know her from her years at Rooks Restaurant where she, along with her husband, sister, and brother-in-law, worked tirelessly to provide the community with a gathering place that served good home-cooked food and provided employment to so many dear friends. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will always remember her as a light of God. She always had a Bible verse to go along with her words of wisdom. We will feel the loss of her daily prayers for her family. She was a true teacher at heart. Memories of her sharing Bible verses, leading campfire songs, and teaching card games will be cherished forever by family and friends. Pudge was a lifelong member of Christ Community Church and devoted her life to Jesus serving as a Sunday School teacher, Bible Club leader, cook and program director at Camp Zion, Passion Play cast member, and mentor to many young people. She and Gene loved to travel. After selling their home in Zion, they traveled the US and Canada in their motor home while spending summers in Door County and winters at their home in Florida. She was a fun-loving and devoted Mom to Susan (Ken) Owenson, Cynthia Spivey, David (Lynette) Neave, Sally Mintern, and foster children Cathy Mintern, Bruce Miller, and Kim Stone Haines. She found great joy and pride in grandchildren Sarah (Pete) Andreoni, Melissa Rice, James Spivey, Matthew (Pam) Neave, Erik Neave, Daniel (Angela) Neave, Joel (Krista) Neave, Nicole (Surge) Palia, and Rebecca (Brandon) Orawiec. Her most recent joy came from her 19 (almost 20) great-grandchildren. She was always so delighted and amazed to see each and every one of them, whether in person or through the phone. Her love ran deep for her great-grandchildren McKenzie and Kaylen Rice, Lane and Samantha Andreoni, Gideon, Charis, Enoch, Oliver, Baisley, Leverett, Mirabelle, Cora, and Ember Neave, Suraj, Samir, Savinder, and Navreet Palia, and Caleb and Luke Orawiec. Pudge is survived by all of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren mentioned above, and sisters Genevra Ower and Roselyn (Wiley) Krapf. Preceding her in death were her beloved husband Eugene Neave, parents James and Laura Rooks, brothers David and James Rooks, sisters Merrill Garbutt and Ellen Falk, brothers-in-law Robert Garbutt and Donald Ower, son-in law Michael Mintern, and great grandchildren Constance and Jackson Neave. A celebration of life memorial service will be held May15, 2021 at Christ Community Church, 2500 Dowie Memorial Dr, Zion, IL 60099. Service at 4:00 preceded by visitation from 2:00 to 4:00. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Zion or CCC Missions in Pudge’s honor.